Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur froze. His sharp eyes darted around the garden, searching for the speaker, but no one appeared.

The voice continued, unhurried.

"You have proven yourself to have talent. Defeating a True Demon at your level is an achievement that very few can claim. Your strength and determination have brought you this far."

Arthur paused, tilting his head as he listened. He stopped scanning the garden and instead let out a short, amused snort. "Right, but are you going to show yourself, or are you planning to stay the creepy disembodied voice? Because I've got to say, the whole mysterious act is getting old."

There was a moment of silence, as though the voice was considering his words—or perhaps just ignoring his quip entirely.

Then the chime sounded again, soft and melodic, seeming to come from every direction at once. The garden shimmered faintly, as if the sunlight filtering through the trees had been infused with life itself.

The voice returned, unhurried as ever.

"Step forward. The path will reveal itself."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he glanced around the picturesque scene.

His gaze flicked over the brook, the tall trees, and the vibrant wildflowers that swayed gently in the breeze. There was no obvious path—no worn trail or hint of where to go. Just the glowing blue haze hanging faintly in the air.

Still, Arthur didn't hesitate. He stepped forward cautiously, his boot pressing into the soft grass. The instant it touched the ground, the air ahead of him rippled, like a pond disturbed by a pebble.

A faint trail of glowing blue light appeared, winding its way through the garden. It shimmered gently, weaving between the trees and wildflowers like a river of light.

Arthur blinked, his eyebrows lifting slightly. "Huh. That's more like it."

He leaned down to brush his hand against the grass, which was cool and damp from dew, then straightened, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted his gear. The garden was peaceful, almost unnervingly so. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than what met the eye.

"Alright then," he said to no one in particular. "Let's see where this goes."

He followed the glowing trail, his boots making soft thuds against the ground.

The path wound gently, leading him deeper into the heart of the garden. The sunlight grew softer, casting dappled patterns across the trees, and the sound of the brook faded into the background, replaced by the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

"You're not going to throw any surprises at me, are you?" he said aloud, half expecting the voice to respond.

But there was no answer. Only the faint chime that seemed to hum along with the glowing path.

The glowing trail led him to a small clearing, where a single tree stood in the center. Unlike the others, this tree was massive, its trunk thick and gnarled, its branches stretching wide to form a canopy that seemed to touch the sky. The blue light spiraled upward, wrapping around the tree like a ribbon, its glow intensifying near the base.

Arthur approached cautiously, his steps slow and measured. The air felt heavier here, as though something ancient and powerful lingered within the tree. He stopped a few feet away, his eyes narrowing as he studied it.

"So, what now?" he asked, his voice breaking the stillness.

The chime sounded again, louder this time, resonating through the clearing. The glow around the tree pulsed, brighter and brighter, until it became almost blinding.

Arthur raised a hand to shield his eyes as the light radiating from the tree grew brighter, the warmth wrapping around him like a gentle embrace. His heart pounded, the sudden surge of energy from the tree catching him off guard. Just as he began to wonder what would happen next, the calm, measured voice returned.

"Enter through the tree."

Arthur blinked, lowering his hand. He stared at the massive tree, its ancient trunk still glowing faintly from the swirling blue light.

"Enter through the tree?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. "There's no door. No opening. No 'Enter Here' sign. How exactly am I supposed to get inside?"

The voice didn't answer.

Arthur sighed, planting his hands on his hips as he tilted his head, staring at the tree like it might offer an explanation. When it didn't, he muttered under his breath. "Alright."

He approached the tree cautiously, its sheer size making him feel oddly small. The bark was rough and gnarled, with ridges deep enough to catch shadows in the sunlight. Wildflowers grew in small clusters around its base, their petals trembling slightly in the breeze.

Arthur circled the tree, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of an entrance. A hidden door, a hollowed-out section, something that could reasonably be described as an opening. But there was nothing.

Looking at the tree, he sighed, brushing his hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. Maybe there's a hidden switch or compartment."

He reached out, pressing his palm flat against the bark.

The instant he made contact, his hand sank into the tree as if it were water.

"Whoa!" Arthur exclaimed, stumbling slightly as the unexpected sensation threw him off balance. He quickly regained his footing, staring at his hand—or at least, what he could see of it. His arm up to the wrist had disappeared into the tree. The rest of him was still very much outside.

The bark rippled faintly around his hand, soft and cool, like a flowing stream. Arthur wiggled his fingers experimentally, feeling a strange resistance as though the inside of the tree was more liquid than solid.

"Well, that's... cool," he said, his tone filled with amusement.

Arthur exhaled, squaring his shoulders. "Alright then. Here goes nothing."

With a deep breath, he stepped forward, letting his hand guide him as he leaned into the tree. The resistance grew stronger for a moment, as though the tree was deciding whether or not to let him in.

Then, with a soft ripple, the bark gave way entirely, and Arthur disappeared into the tree.